The coronavirus pandemic has proved to be a difficult experience for business owners across the globe. Lockdowns, restrictions and economic uncertainty have changed the way we do business beyond all recognition.
While there is so much about the situation we cannot control, something you can do is get organised about your next steps. Here are our top tips on how to manage your business during a pandemic to guide you.
Make sure everyone is on the same page
With so many restrictions in and outside of work, it can be tricky to keep up. Your employees are going to need clear guidance on whether they can continue working or not. This includes telling them everything they need to adhere to when at work such as social distancing guidelines. Or when they are expected to be brought back if on furlough.
Depending on the nature of your business, your employees may also be working from home at the moment. It can be quite confronting to adapt to a new way of working. Some employees may also have accessibility or childcare requirements to deal with too, so it’s good to ensure that everyone has what they need. That way, your business can continue to run as best as possible given the circumstances.
Have regular check-ins
Stress, not to mention the isolation, is a problem that all of us are facing to some degree. Especially as the pandemic has been dragging on for months now. Whether you’re a business owner or an employee, we all need to let off some steam. That’s why regular check-ins are essential to maintain mental health and strengthen workplace relationships.
Zoom and regular phone calls are a great outlet for this, as the conversation doesn’t always have to be about work. Even a quick 5-minute chat with your employees can make the world of difference, and you should encourage them to do the same with each other too. You’re not the only one feeling frustrated or anxious about the next few months, so don’t keep things to yourself. As a team, you are there to support each other.
Prepared to get flexible
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the approach to how we do business is crucial as to whether it can survive or not. For example, how restaurants have turned to serving take out food to generate a profit during the lockdown, as otherwise, they wouldn’t be bringing in any income. While it may not replace your regular earnings, being flexible is worth a shot especially as we don’t know how long the pandemic will last for.
Even though you may be entering into the unknown, it pays to get creative with your business offering, especially as it could avoid you having to let employees go or closing altogether. A top tip is to ensure your website design facilitates a way for your business to make money, such as an online store or the ability to purchase vouchers for when you reopen.
Refine your marketing
If your business has experienced disruption, now is the perfect opportunity to make the most of the downtime by refining your marketing strategy. Social media marketing is a huge part of this, especially as it’s one of the best ways to communicate with your customers about what’s happening with your business during the pandemic and beyond.
SEO has always been an integral part of marketing, and now more than ever, people are making Google searches to find out which services they can still access. Relevant keywords about your service and location should be displayed throughout your website and on your social media posts. There’s no reason why you can’t build your audience and adapt your business model to profit from it, even during these difficult times.
To sum up
As we continue to navigate the pandemic, it’s clear that communication and an element of flexibility are what’s needed most. All of us are trying to find a way through, so it’s imperative that as a business, you remain top of everything that needs to be done.
By giving your customers new ways to shop with you, and fine-tuning your digital marketing, you will give your business the best chance of success during these turbulent times.